October 08, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC When people ask me why I don’t have a boyfriend, I immediately tell them that it’s because I don’t have time to date. The fact that I write so much on the Internet about being single (on top of the vagina steaming and public armpit sniffing) probably isn’t doing me any favors, but I choose to blame my singlehood on scheduling. So, when I got an e-mail that Switch Playground—a workout studio in NYC—was hosting a speed dating event on a recent Friday night, I was obviously in. A Friday night activity that allowed me to multi-task a workout with a singles mixer? Hell, yes. In New York City, we’re nothing if not efficient. By nature, Switch Playground’s format lends itself fairly seamlessly to meeting people. It’s a partner-based sweat sesh in which pairs rotate through 20 exercise stations, spending two minutes at each before moving on. In a normal class, you stick with the same partner for the full hour, but at the mixer you got a new partner at every interval to maximize efficiency. So over the course of the class, I had the chance to cycle through 20 different stations and 20 different potential husbands. “I believe Switch Playground lends itself to the perfect opportunity to meet someone by sharing the experience together and having fun,” says Steve Uria, the founder of Switch and mastermind behind the event. “It removes the awkwardness of conversation and brings you right to a
Category: Your Regeneration
Mirror’s latest update makes the ultimate fitness luxury—at-home personal training—more accessible than ever
October 08, 2019 at 03:01PM by CWC At-home personal training has long been the ultimate fitness luxury, reserved for A-listers (imagine running on a treadmill next to J.Lo) and the rest of the 1 percent who can afford not only to have a gym in their house, but also to have someone come over and show them how to use it. For the rest of us, the idea of having a trainer at our disposal—in our homes, nonetheless—seems akin to owning a yacht or having a summer chalet next door to George Clooney in Lake Como: nothing more than a pipe dream. Well, all of that is about to change thanks to latest technology from Mirror, which is bringing personal training (yup, you read that right) into the living rooms of those of us who don’t have a million dollars in the bank. If you’re unfamiliar, Mirror launched last year as a (literal) mirror that you hang on the wall to stream live and on-demand fitness classes. At the time, it was revolutionary because it allowed you to see trainers and yourself in the same interface as you worked out (hello, proper squat form), but the latest update takes things to an entirely new level. The new tech uses Mirror’s two-way audio and video interface, which means that not only are you able to see yourself and the trainer in the mirror (the way they’ve always been able to), but the trainer can see you, too. (Before you get creeped out
It sounds super extra, but here’s why it’s good to have more than 1 foundation
October 08, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC When someone asks me what my favorite foundation is, I panic at the thought of trying to come up with an answer. Not because I don’t have one, but because I have so many that picking a single winner would be like asking me to choose a favorite Taylor Swift song or episode of The Bold Type. I love them all equally (we can talk about my taste in pop culture later, ok?). Each foundation I own fits a different need, which is why I’m a major proponent of the idea of putting together a “foundation wardrobe,” the same way you would with your clothes—and beauty pros agree. “I think we all love options, and that’s no different for the type of foundations,” says celebrity makeup artist Aliana Lopez. “Just like our moods, and the weather, things change, and it’s always great to have a foundation that meets your needs from lighter or more sheer coverage to something that makes you feel very glam.” My own foundation wardrobe consists of an undetectable foundation that I wear on dates, one that I want to make my skin look like I’ve just returned from a five-day vacation in St. Barths, one that I wear when I want people to know I’m intentionally glamming up, an everyday BB cream with SPF , a tinted facial oil, and an old-faithful CC cream. As you can tell, I take this type of thing very seriously. But of course, my foundation
Do essential oils work? Because I’m confused about how to use them effectively
October 08, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC When I was an oily teen, so to speak, my mom picked me up some tea tree oil, hoping in vain that it would help clear up my skin. But rather than spot treat using a less-is-more approach, I recklessly smeared it all over my face and had a fun, burning time thanks to my complete lack of patience. (Just kidding—it was not fun.) At the time, I felt betrayed: Do essential oils work for real and for true, I wondered. Or I destined to have stubborn skin issues until Mom throws in the know-it-all towel and takes me to a dermatologist? While option B ended up becoming my reality, I did also learn that essential oils work when used properly. (And I was decidedly not using tea tree oil for skin care properly.) Moreover, although every essential oil is billed as offering quite the slate of potential benefits, certain varieties have strengths backed by some scientific research. So to make the best use of your oils, it’s worth being aware of which have been studied for specific purposes, how the work, and in which ways they’re most effective. Lucky for you, all that legwork is already done. Below, check out a crash course in how oils work. Essential oils: A general refresher “Essential oils are aromatic liquid substances that are extracted from different kinds of plant materials using the process of steam distillation,” says Amy Galper, aromatherapist and founder of the New
“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
Well+Good readers share their favorite hot breakfasts that aren’t oatmeal
October 08, 2019 at 02:30AM by CWC As temperatures drop, the desire for a steaming hot dish of something or another to entice you out of bed in the morning tends to rise. And while oatmeal’s cool and all, it’s not exactly the sexiest thing on the menu and some days, you need healthy breakfast ideas to put a little more pep in your pot to get things going. Sure, you can add eggs to it, throw in some miso and/or veggies, or top it with roasted fruit, but occasionally, none of that is enough to get you excited and you need to go an entirely different route. Enter cold-weather healthy breakfast ideas from Well+Good readers, via Cook With Us, who shared their favorite go-to’s—outside of oatmeal—for breaking the nightly fast. Whether you’re devoted to veganism, vegetarianism, the Whole 30 diet, the ketogenic diet, or just about anything in between or beyond, something on this list oughta spark. It’s got stacks, scrambles, sandwiches and skillets—all healthy, quick (or fairly easy to hack) and, at least according to our readers, yummy AF. 10 healthy breakfast ideas that aren’t oatmeal Photo: Love and Lemons 1. Shakshuka If your breakfast typically consists of a nuked bowl of oats, this recipe may at first glance look like a huge leap; however, in practice, it’s not actually all that difficult—especially given that Trader Joe’s sells a shakshuka starter kit. You can follow TJ’s 10-minute recipe or opt for the linked Love and Lemons version instead.
Getting injured in Hawaii was actually the best thing to happen to my vacation
October 08, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC On day two of the weeklong vacation to be spent relaxing in Hawaii, I sprained my ankle. As I ran out of the ocean, away from the jellyfish I spotted in the water (I got stung on my other ankle the day before), I didn’t see a dip in the sand and landed badly. I screamed in pain—inviting the attention of all the other beachgoers in Kailua, Oahu—kneeled down, and started crying. As far as physical injuries go, I’m well aware that a muscle sprain isn’t near the top of the list in terms of severity, but it really hurt. That said, my tears of pain quickly morphed into tears of sadness about my now-ruined vacation. As my boyfriend and a (very, very kind) stranger carried me off the beach, I mentally scratched out all the activities on the itinerary I’d no longer be able to do: hikes I’d planned to climb, beaches I’d planned to run, tropical attractions I’d planned to explore. All these plans slipped like sand through my fingers when I made that one wrong step on the beach. Now I couldn’t bear any weight on my right foot; I couldn’t walk or exercise at all, and since fitness is part of my daily routine, the injury felt like a disorienting assault on my natural inclination to run and move and sweat every single day. (I’m not kidding—I even work out when I’m slightly sick, which research has shown can
Is citric acid the new baking soda? Here are 5 ways you can use it for a home that’s squeaky clean
October 08, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC If citric acid sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen it on a label. You can’t really miss it, as it’s in everything from food items like wine and hummus to beauty products. What most people don’t realize, though, is that it also makes for a super-versatile, all-natural cleaning ingredient for your healthy home. Baking soda is often touted as the best cleaning ingredient. It’s safe on a variety of surfaces, banishes odor, and even helps to keep the sparkle in your white sneakers. But citric acid is often overlooked when it comes to sprucing up your home. In powder form (like this highly-rated option from Amazon), “citric acid helps break down any gunk, grime, and build-up,” says Melissa Maker, founder of Clean My Space. Citric acid can be used easily to safely to rid your home of bacteria, mold, and mildew. The fact that citric acid is ingestible and used in food makes it a harmless choice for cleaning your home. You can clean surfaces that come in contact without worry. If you want to retire your baking soda for a while, the ways to use it are endless. Here are 5 ways you can clean with citric acid at home 1. Deep-clean your coffee pot To give your coffee machine a deep-clean, fill the reservoir with water and add in a couple teaspoons of citric acid. Once it’s done brewing, any build-up will be gone. 2. Clean your toilet bowl Creating
Your next-level guide to increasing your fiber intake (without pooping your pants)
October 08, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC You’ve done your reading, and you’ve got the fiber scoop down. You understand that fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes; and that it promotes gut health, low cholesterol, and low blood sugar, and helps you feel full longer. You’ve even started trying to eat more fiber. Basically, you’ve mastered the 101-level life course on fiber. But experts say to really reap all of the nutrient’s benefits, you need to get serious about your fiber intake. Consider this your 201-level guide to eating more fiber…you know, without become a gassy, farty mess. 1. Eat more of it than you think you need The USDA’s 2015-2020 dietary guidelines for Americans recommend 14 grams of dietary fiber per 1,000 kcals a day. That translates to a recommendation of between 25.2 and 28 grams of dietary fiber each day for women ages 18 to 50. Women in the U.S. get, on average, 15 grams a day, which means you likely need way more than you’re consuming, even if you’ve already significantly upped your daily amount. “I think [my clients] overestimate the amount that they get from certain things and don’t realize that it’s actually not so simple to get that 25 grams without a little bit of planning,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, founder of Nutrition Starring You and author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. “They’re like, ‘I had a big salad,’ and it was like three grams of fiber, because lettuce
This is the most Googled drugstore makeup brand in the U.S.—here are the 5 items to buy
October 07, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC If someone were to check my Google history, they’d find any variety of searches on how to apply liquid eyeshadow, which blushes are the easiest to use with minimal effort, and how to perfectly match my foundation. But if you were to check the makeup-related inquiries of the entire United States, you would discover the most popular beauty brands in the country… and that’s exactly what skin-care company Sand and Sky did. They compiled data from Google Trends to determine the most-searched makeup brands in every state. While the luxury lineup was fascinating (people really love their IT Cosmetics and Laura Lee, huh?), what really struck my interest was the most-searched drugstore makeup brand in the U.S. The winner? Drumroll please: Physicians Formula. This was news to me, as it’s admittedly not the first name that pops into my head when I think, “drugstore cosmetics.” But it’s actually an under-the-radar, makeup artist-beloved makeup line that’s chock-full of dependable cosmetics bags staples. And it’s known for having hypoallergenic, safer-for-your-skin ingredients, which is great news for those with sensitive skin or eyes that tend to water up from certain mascaras (raises hand). Plus, it’s something you can get at the drugstore, which means it’s better for your wallet. In case all of this didn’t give you enough reasons to love the brand, the story behind it also happens to be aww-worthy levels of romantic. Physicians Formula was founded by an allergist who wanted to create makeup