October 03, 2019 at 06:18PM by CWC One of the biggest perks of being a beauty editor is that part of my literal job is to test makeup products, which means, as you can probably imagine, I’ve racked up quite the personal collection. Whether it’s a pricey foundation that will make your skin glow like a baby angel’s or a splurge-worthy waterproof mascara that refuses to budge (no matter how many teary therapy sessions I put it through), my face and I have been pretty spoiled thanks to the job. But as any beauty pro will tell you, you don’t have to be shelling out big-time bucks on makeup in order to create a look you love. In fact, there are plenty of products on drugstore shelves that will help you get the look for a whole lot less. To prove it, I swapped my pricey routine for one that costs only $83, and frankly, I can’t tell a difference. Scroll through for the products that officially have a permanent place on my beauty shelf. Photo: ELF E.L.F. Hydrating Face Primer, $5 I’ve used the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36) for years, so when the internet told me that this version could serve as a $5 dupe, I admittedly had my doubts. But, this stuff is good, and seriously lives up to the hype. I have very dry skin, and the vitamin A, C, and E in this primer gives it an added layer of hydration before I apply my foundation so that
Category: Your Regeneration
A happiness expert’s explains why a ‘bronze lining’ makes you happier than a silver one
October 03, 2019 at 05:28PM by CWC Back in high school, I spent my weekends playing travel volleyball. My team had a knack for coming in second, and over time, the silver medals really grated on my self-esteem. Years later, I finally understand the psychological reason why always being the runner-up (oh, how to phrase it…) sucks. According to 20th century psychologist William James, coming in second rarely feels good. For the sake of your happiness, it’s oh-so-much better to come in third. In his seminal work, The Principles of Psychology, James theorized that what someone accomplishes matters less to them than how they perceive said accomplishments, reports Scientific American. For example, you may be stoked that you’re finally able to afford your own studio apartment, until you learn that a close friend recently moved into a one-bedroom. On the The Happiness Lab podcast, which is hosted by Laurie Santos, PhD, a professor of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University, gives an Olympic example. Dr. Santos interviews Thomas Gilovich, PhD, a professor of Psychology at Cornell University, who—after observing that Olympic silver medalists tend to take their losses harder than those awarded the bronze—conducted his own experiment to study the psychology of coming in second and third. After screening footage of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Dr. Gilovich asked students to rank the facial expressions of the swimmers on a scale of 1 (miserable) to 10 (very happy). Overall, the bronze medalists facial expressions were happier than those who placed
Reformation and New Balance just teamed up to drop sustainable sneaks that couldn’t be cuter
October 03, 2019 at 03:21PM by CWC I am notoriously bad at emails. At the time I am writing this, there are upwards of 38,000 emails in my inbox, and I have no doubt that is giving many of you anxiety….sorry. Obviously in this sea of newsletters, work deadlines, and chains I’ve been on since the better part of 2009, it’s hard for a message to stand out, but New Balance managed to do just that. The sneaker behemoth just announced that they’d be partnering with Reformation on a line of sustainable sneaks. This gets me going for two big reasons: The first is that I live to know things, well, first, and the second is that I can’t get enough dad sneakers in my life. Nothing makes me want to use ten exclamation points in a row more than the fact that these two things came in one glorious package. The collection, which contains three sneaker styles in five exclusive color ways, is New Balance’s first sustainability-led collab and Reformation’s first foray into sneakers (the brand launched a sustainable footwear line earlier this year). The sneakers are made from chrome-free suede, and the tannery they tapped uses a chrome-free tanning method (chrome can become carcinogenic when not handled properly). The tannery also has a Leather Working Group gold status, the highest level for environmental compliance a sustainable practices in the leather industry. The linings, laces, and labels of the sneakers are made from post-consumer recycled polyester, and the shoe inserts
How to get rid of blackheads around the nose, according to dermatologists
October 03, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC If you’re like me and a large chunk of the population, you’ll often find pesky blackheads on and around your nose. As a refresher, blackheads are acne before it’s officially acne. Dermatologists call it a “precursor” for acne, since it’s just a clogged, debris-filled pore, and it turns black because it’s the bacteria on your skin mixed with your own face oils (hope you’re not eating). It can either just stay put as a blackhead, or go on to mature into a full-on breakout—but, either way, if you’d rather your pore be cleared of this gunk, there is a path forward. “Blackheads are more likely to form on the nose because the nose has numerous glands—more so than the rest of your face, which already has more oil glands than the rest of your body,” says Sheel Desai Solomon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in North Carolina. That means it’s a hotspot for clogged pores. There are plenty of ways to deal with (and prevent) blackheads, though—keep scrolling to find which one could work for you. How to get rid of blackheads on nose areas 1. Try a pore strip: You may have tried this gunk-removing method in middle school (guilty!), and derms say it’s still pretty reliable. “Pore strips work like a bandage. Each strip is coated with a strong adhesive,” says Dr. Solomon. “They work to remove what you currently have, but they do nothing to prevent what is coming.” To use, leave
A sleep doctor’s 3 golden rules for nailing the perfect nap
October 03, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Knowing how to nap is a skill I never mastered, even way back when, in the days of play mats and finger painting. It could be due to my body prepping me for a life of late nights and anxious thoughts, but it could also be a result of no one ever teaching me how to do it the right way. Because to this day, whenever I try to sneak in a quick disco nap for necessary purposes of rejuvenation, I wake up feeling crazy groggy. So, once and for all, I need to know: What rules must I learn to follow in order to nail the perfect nap? Because, given how many people in my life love and rely on this activity, I have to figure it out. The FOMO alone is too real not to at this point, so I tapped a sleep expert for answers. First things first, I learned about who shouldn’t nap: “Power naps are great if you’re a good sleeper at night and just need a little pick-me-up,” says Shelby Harris, PsyD, sleep-health expert and author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. “However, if you struggle with sleep at night, napping is not generally advised since it steals sleep from the night.” Beyond that, though, learning how to nap like a pro only requires you to keep three rules in mind. Check them out below. 1. Find a place that’s quiet, cool, dark, and comfortable …If you
Not sure how to navigate the world of plant-rich skin care? Start with these 5 ingredients
October 03, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC Cleaning up your beauty routine can quickly become centered on all the things you’re supposed to avoid (good bye, phthalates parabens, triclosan, etc, etc). But what about the good stuff? What are the ingredients you’re actually supposed to look for? In an effort to give the process a more positive spin (and to help you avoid having to scan the back of every. single. moisturizer), we asked clean-beauty formulator Leigh Winters and Rachelle Robinett—herbalist, holistic health practitioner, and founder of Supernatural—to share a guide to some of the buzzy plant ingredients that are just as effective as the toxic stuff. “In some sense, we eat what we wear (on our skin),” Robinett explains. “If there’s a chemical in our skin care, it too can be absorbed and affect us, especially with long-term use.” That means rubbing on a random product you found buried at the bottom of your makeup bag (without knowing what’s actually in it) is maybe not such a great idea. “Our body is a system—everything we put on our skin, nails, and hair can create a physiological cascade that throws our body out of balance,” adds Winters. Her point? It’s probably worth it to acquaint yourself with the plant-rich ingredients that’ll deliver on glow (and support your holistic wellness). The most important thing to remember, though, when caring for your complexion is that your skin is constantly evolving in response to your lifestyle, the seasons, your stress levels, and more.
7 Aquarius traits that make this resilient winter sign the zodiac’s unique snowflake
October 03, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC You’re probably well aware of who in your life—whether it be a friend, ex, significant other, or anyone else—is an Aquarius, largely because these characters just don’t blend in. This fixed sign is born in the middle of winter (January 20 to February 18), which contributes to how resilient they tend to be. Think of them as the Sansa Stark of the zodiac wheel, because Aquarius traits include being fearless, independent, strong leaders, and, well, very badass, to say the least. Now, at the risk of coming across as cocky, I’m an Aquarius. Because of this, I know Aquarius traits pretty well. But to keep myself honest and learn more about what specifically makes us so unique and special, I spoke with several astrologers. First, the basics: Aquarians are represented by the symbol of two waves, which makes sense given that the sign is a water-bearer, which supposedly bestows water (i.e. life) on the land. Also, despite this connection to water, Aquarius is ruled by the element of air, which reflects a temperament of making waves and being in the midst of action. “Aquarius tends to be extremely intelligent and very much connected—they can easily channel information that exists out in the ether and bring it into reality.” —Corina Crysler, astrologer “The air element really works with intellect, flow, and movement,” says Corina Crysler, astrologer and wellness expert. “And Aquarius is a fixed sign, which really brings stability, determination, and depth, so these
The 6 healthiest smoothies and snacks you can get at Jamba Juice, according to a top dietitian
October 03, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC When it comes to grab-and-go food, smoothie bars and juice shops can be the most confusing to navigate as a healthy eater. At a burger joint like Wendy’s or McDonald’s, it’s pretty straight-forward that the salad options are typically going to be more nutritious than a burger and fries. But smoothies can be murkier territory. Yes, they’re often full of healthy fruits or buzzy add-ins, like chia or acai, but they often also pack in a hefty dose of sugar. At Jamba (formerly known as Jamba Juice), there’s both food and smoothies on the menu, which leads to more choices—and more potential confusion when you order. That’s where registered dietitian Carrie Dennett, RD, comes in. Here, she breaks down which options (both food-wise and smoothie-wise) are truly the best ones, especially for plant-based, low-sugar, and ketogenic eaters (all of whom can have a tough time in a smoothie bar). Keep reading to see the RD-approved picks. Plant-based Smoothie menu picks: Vanilla Blue Sky; Smooth Talkin’ Mango Smoothie What an RD says: Jamba has a whole menu of plant-based smoothie options. Cream of the crop is the new Vanilla Blue Sky smoothie, made with unsweetened almond milk, vanilla coconut milk, pineapple, and spirulina. “The 16 ounce size has five grams of fiber, which is pretty decent,” Dennett says. (The goal is to get 25 grams a day.) While it is a bit high in sugar (27 grams), Dennett says that it’s at least from the pineapple
The one-step skin-care routine derms say you should be doing when you get out of the shower
October 02, 2019 at 11:30PM by CWC Whether or not you should wash your face in the shower is one of the most controversial topics in the skin-care world. Some derms will tell you that the water is too hot and will strip your skin, while others will say that it’s totally fine as long as you’re keeping your showers short and using the right product. Personally, I will never give up the convenience of facial cleansing as a part of my lather-and-rinse routine, because who the heck has time for an extra step in the morning?! Recently, though, I learned that it’s really what you do to your skin after stepping out of the jet stream that matters… and all you need to keep your skin happy is a single step. The one product you should be applying after you shower? A facial oil, which dermatologists say works to seal in all that good H2O to keep skin hydrated from within. “Oils are great for locking in hydration after showers,” says board-certified dermatopathologist Gretchen Frieling, MD. She explains that oils are also great because they “mimic the natural oil produced by the skin,” which helps your skin maintain its barrier. “Oils are best used after bathing for hydration,” confirms board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare, Purvisha Patel, MD, adding that they need to be layered on top of water in order to really do their job. While creams and moisturizers add hydration to your skin, oils serve as a
Shailene Woodley’s high-fiber breakfast is worth stealing for yourself
October 02, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTzJ31Sd60] Want to steal Woodley’s high-fiber breakfast? Watch the video. If you tuned into the highly-anticipated second installment of Big Little Lies, you know that Shailene Woodley’s character, Jane, experienced a whirlwind of a season. When it comes to breakfast, however, Woodley doesn’t like plot twists. On the most recent episode of Well+Good’s The Avocado Show, the environmentally conscious celebrity admitted that she enjoys the very same, high-fiber breakfast every morning. When Ella Dove, Well+Good’s senior video producer, asked Woodley about her morning meal of choice, she answered simply: “Porridge. Every single day.” Thanks to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, porridge has kind of a snoozy reputation. One glance at its nutrition facts will sway your opinion though—promise. As porridge is the result of heating up any grain with water or milk, you have so much control over the nutritional contents of the a bowl. For example: If quinoa is your chosen base, one cup contains about 6 grams of fiber—the heart-healthy, digestion-boosting nutrient all of us could stand to eat a little more of. The 6 grams doesn’t even include the toppings you can use to grow that number, like a serving of blueberries (2.5 grams), chia seeds (about 10 grams), or almond butter (about 4 grams). Load your bowl with all three and, ta-da!, you’ve served yourself up 20 plus grams of fiber before noon. I think Woodley would agree that when it comes to good digestion,