January 27, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC When you think of skin care, your think of your face. That’s probably what 99 percent of the beauty products on display in your bathroom are for, whether they’re melting cleansers or luxe serums. That other 1 percent? Moisturizing body lotions. The only area of your body that’s often neglected in skin care is your hands, and experts say they’re more than deserving of a routine too. The hands rarely get an adequate amount of TLC, and that’s exactly why they often end up looking much older than other areas of your body as you age. “The hands are very vulnerable because the skin is thin,” says Gretchen Frieling, MD, a Boston-based dermatopathologist. “We forget that we need to exfoliate our hands and moisturize them just as we would our face. Hands also tend to be dryer than our faces because they have fewer sebaceous glands, which produce sebum, an oily substance that helps protect the skin by keeping it lubricated and waterproof.” In addition, the hands aren’t protected by makeup or clothing. Because of that, Dr. Frieling says the sun’s powerful UV rays cause about 80 percent of the unsightly skin changes that are associated with aging. To make sure you’re properly taking care of your hands—from using SPF to exfoliating on the regular—here’s your expert-approved routine. The only skin-care routine your hands need 1. Use a broad spectrum SPF sunscreen every day Dr. Frieling’s go-to: Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with
Tag: Facials
Rebuild your ravaged skin barrier with this simple 3-step formula
January 26, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC I’ve dealt with a lot of skin conditions, ranging from hormonal acne to hyperpigmentation, but for the first time in my life I’m dealing with a totally new issue: a sabotaged skin barrier. And it is brutal. The skin barrier acts as a natural protective shield, and when it’s disrupted (the way mine is right now) it makes skin especially vulnerable to damage from pollution, winter air, sunlight, etc. TL, DR: everything hurts. Although it’s easy to confuse an impaired skin barrier with other woes like wind burn, eczema, or a sensitivity, the telltale signs are skin inflammation and redness (like… a lot of redness). As a refresher, a damaged skin barrier function means that the lipid or oil barrier of your skin is disrupted. “So the small, exposed cracks in the skin are more sensitive to products and outside agents that can get in and cause inflammation,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “Water is able to evaporate from the skin more, resulting in drier skin.” And since your skin is more exposed to the environment, she points out that you can experience even more sensitivity to the products you’re using. Suddenly reacting to retinol for the first time in your life? A damaged skin barrier could be to blame. Building your skin barrier back up is a process that involves a strategic regimen filled with ultra-nourishing ingredients, and absolutely nothing that can cause irritation. As
Turn out the lights: New studies show energy-efficient bulbs can damage skin
January 24, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC A teeny, tiny “I told you so” secretly sparked within me when I heard that there are studies showing that visible light—the kind you see flooding out of fluorescent office fixtures or LED bulbs—could be damaging your skin. After years of welcoming guests to lounge areas illuminated almost exclusively by candles and nights spent at dinner parties searching for dimmers to take down the too-bright overheads, I felt like a subconscious instinct had been validated. And while the research is preliminary, it’s a good time to start tuning in—and turning off—whenever possible. “New evidence has been published that [shows] high-energy visible light (HEVL), which is emitted from energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs and LED lights, can cause ROS-mediated photoaging and inflammation in the skin,” says dermatologist Bradley Bloom, MD, of Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. For those unfamiliar with the term ROS (most everyone?), it stands for “reactive oxygen species,” which we’ve known for years are responsible for creating free-radical damage within the skin when it’s exposed to UV light from the sun. Free-radical damage, or oxidative damage, can create problems within the skin that are wide-ranging, including acne, pigmentation, eczema, collagen degradation… the list goes on. These burgeoning studies from dermatologist David McDaniel, MD, indicate that the light from bulbs (which is necessary to simply see) could also be responsible for “atmospheric skin aging,” or compromising the health and integrity of our complexions. This research is finally gaining attention, says Dr.
Getting glass skin is actually easier than you think
January 23, 2020 at 11:00AM by CWC “You’ve got glass skin” is the ultimate complexion compliment. It encompasses everything healthy skin should be: hydrated, bright, and dewy. It’s a glow so strong, it’s practically reflective. But what is glass skin? The concept comes to us by way of Korea, where women know more than a thing or two about keeping their complexions happy. “Glass skin, or ‘yuri pibu’ in Korean, refers to translucent skin that is clear, radiant, poreless, and smooth—almost like a pane of glass,” says Glow Recipe co-founder and K-beauty pro Sarah Lee. And the key to making it happen? Consistency, consistency, consistency. “Just like getting regular exercise is a way to stay healthy, practicing a consistent skin-care routine is important to achieve not only glass skin but keeping skin in its best, glowing state,” she says. With the right routine and ingredients, it’s something anyone can achieve. One misconception worth clearing up? “Glass skin” means healthy skin, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be blemish-free. “We want to dispel the idea that glass skin can only be achieved with perfect clear skin because that is far from the truth,” says Lee. “The most important factor is that your routine includes both hydrating and gently exfoliating ingredients to achieve that reflective look.” Regularly exfoliating helps to fade dark spots and prevent breakouts, and hydration ensures that your skin isn’t producing excess oil, which also prevents breakouts. 1. Cleanse Not once, but twice. “Dewy, bright skin starts with the double
The 5 healthiest hot sauces you’ll want to put on *everything*
January 22, 2020 at 01:30AM by CWC Born and raised in Buffalo, I can’t not like hot sauce. Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper sauce can be found in every cabinet in the 716, and before Beyoncé made it popular, I used to carry it in my bag to make school lunches more tolerable. But it turns out my beloved sauce has a whopping 190 mg of sodium! Considering the average person isn’t drinking glasses of hot sauce, that number isn’t the worst, but we know we can do much better. Nutritionist Andrea Mathis, RDN, says while there might not be much nutritional value to hot sauce, there are certainly hot sauces that are better for you than others. “Even though most hot sauce is very low in calories and fat, there are still are few other factors to consider when choosing the best option and those factors are sodium content and the amount of artificial ingredients,” she says. “I like to choose a hot sauce that has a moderate-to low-amount of sodium and is made with natural ingredients.” The healthy hot sauces you should put on everything 1. McIlhenny Co. Tabasco Pepper Sauce, $4 Mathis says this one stands out because of its simplicity. “I love it because you only have to use a little bit to get that perfect spicy flavor, and it only contains approximately 35mg of sodium per serving,” she says. “It also contains no artificial ingredients.” 2. Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Sauce, $4 Trader Joe’s always
4 things you should always do to your skin, according to a French facialist
January 21, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC I’ve gleaned beauty secrets from all types of experts, ranging from top dermatologists to facial yoga instructors and everyone in between. But I’m very excited to spill what a French skin-care routine looks like, according to my latest resource: Mila Moursi, a 70-year old Parisian facialist who has decades of skin-care knowledge under her belt. Moursi has a unique background—she studied (and taught classes on) aesthetics and cosmetic chemistry before treating the faces of stars like Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock. “The combination of my education and years of experience taught me that beauty is from the inside-out,” says Moursi. “A good product can be amazing, but if your lifestyle is not good, you’re jeopardizing the product.” For example, right along with your skin-care regimen, she stresses the importance of “beauty sleep,” eating healthy, and staying hydrated. To help bolster her 360-degree philosophy on beauty, the Parisian skin pro is all about consistency in your regimen and feeding your complexion the right ingredients. “I love peptides and amino acids,” says Moursi, since these even and brighten the skin, and she’s a big supporter of hyaluronic acid, because “it really plumps your face like a glass of water for your skin.” Keep scrolling for more of Moursi’s skin-care tips and the four things you should always do to your skin. 1. Focus on cleansing “A lot of people don’t know how to cleanse properly,” says Moursi. First of all, she recommends that you use
A Sephora beauty director can’t stop gushing over these 5 skin-care products
January 20, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC When a beauty insider sweeps aside the curtain and lets you in on her beauty secrets, you get out a pen and take down notes. So when Sephora beauty director Myiesha Sewell shared the five Sephora skin-care products she loves the very most, you better believe my hand was cramping. From an exfoliating mask to a cleansing balm to her best-of-the-best hyaluronic acid, here’s what you’ll find in Sewell’s beauty cabinet. The 5 Sephora skin-care products an insider keeps on hand at all times All Photos: Sephora 1. The Ordinary “Buffet”, $15 “I feel like this is kind of like The Ordinary’s hero product. I was using a basic hyaluronic acid serum—I have so many I go between!—but I’m turning 34 soon, and I feel like I need to ease in some anti-aging during the day because I typically keep that at night. I love the fact that it feels like nothing, but I’m still getting the anti-aging ingredients with the matrixyl, peptides, and my hyaluronic acid. But it just kind of wears like this like very airy moisture on my face. So I love that,” says Sewell. 2. Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer, $39 “I think most people are familiar with the sleeping mask, but the daytime moisturizer is actually a serum moisturizer, so it has hyaluronic acid in it,” says Sewell. “My skin isn’t sensitive but it can be reactive. My eczema will flare up if I’m physically stressed
You can spot treat skin dryness just like you can breakouts, according to derms
January 18, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC We often think about spot treatments in terms of fighting breakouts. But newsflash: There are also spot treatments for dry skin, too. Think about it: It doesn’t really make sense to apply a cream all over your face throughout the day if only certain parts of your complexion are parched (especially if you wear makeup and have to reapply that, too). “Spot treating dry patches can help even out your skin tone, rather than applying lotion to the overall area,” says Gretchen Frieling, MD, a Boston-based board-certified dermatopathologist, noting that this is particularly the case for people with combination skin types. “If your forehead is dry, you can apply a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to just that area.” The same applies to your cheeks (or your chin, or whatever is dry). As of late, this is getting easier than ever with the advent of serum sticks, which contain hydrating ingredients that are easy to deliver to skin and don’t require your entire complexion to be doused with a product. Dr. Frieling recommends looking for your MVP skin-hydrating ingredients to spot treat dryness, citing hyaluronic acid, ceramides, shea butter, and vitamin C as prime examples. “Skin replenishing ingredients like hyaluronic and glycolic acid help enrich the outer layer of the skin giving it a heavy dose of hydration,” she says. “Hyaluronic acid is especially beneficial for immediate hydration, as it grabs onto water and holds it within your complexion.” Ceramides, she adds, also help
The definitive ranking of boutique fitness locker rooms with the best beauty supplies
January 18, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC My old apartment had a scary bathroom that I hated using. To avoid it, I’d book evening hot yoga classes at Y7 Studio so I could shower there. The shower lines are much shorter in the evening, and the Malin+Goetz shower gel they provide smells so good you forget all about the 60 minutes you spent slipping around in your own sweat. Boutique studios have seriously upped the gym locker room game—so much that you may go out of your way to shower at the gym. If you’re ever out of shampoo, or, like me, have a bathroom straight out of a horror film, you can literally just shower at the gym. Where is the best place to go, you ask? We’ve got you covered. The 7 best-stocked boutique studios locker rooms for showering at the gym Photo: Kiehl’s best body lotion: EQUINOX While not exactly boutique, Equinox set this luxe standard when they partnered with Kiehl’s back in 2009. The Crème de Corps ($40) is a real stand-out. It’s packed with ingredients like beta-carotene, cocoa butter, and sesame, which fight free radicals, moisturize and soften the skin, respectively. It’s so good, one of our writers swears by it to nourish her dry skin. Photo: Chanel Best serums: THE CLASS BY TARYN TOOMEY I don’t know about you, but Chanel serums aren’t exactly at the top of my restock list. Feel like a French girl and do your skin routine at The Class
8 skin-care products you can get from Ulta for under $20 from this new UK-based brand
January 17, 2020 at 04:17PM by CWC In case you haven’t heard yet, 2020 is the year of skin care—especially affordable skin care that still leaves your face as hydrated and radiant as the expensive stuff. Riding in on this new year, all-things-skin-care trend is Dr.Organic®, a UK-based skin-care brand that’s already won several European beauty awards for its products featuring select organic ingredients that are free of parabens, silicones, and phthalates, while also delivering the effortless glow this year promised you—just without the hefty price tag. Newsflash: Ulta carries the line, which means you’ll never have to shell out more than 25 bucks to get your hands—err, face—on these goodies. To help save you time on what exactly you should be adding to cart, we’ve rounded up eight Dr.Organic® must-haves to shop now. Keep reading for 8 products made with select organic and naturally sourced ingredients you can snag from Ulta now—all for under $20. Aloe Vera Hydrating Moisture Cream, $16 Winter weather leaving your skin dry and irritated? Soothe and hydrate with this ultra moisturizing cream that’s infused with organic aloe vera along with calendula and sweet almond oil to generously nourish. Tea Tree Purifying Face Scrub, $16 Help balance your oily skin—with oil. In this case, clarifying tea tree oil, which takes a starring role in this scrub to help gently exfoliate your skin without clogging your pores or leaving behind annoying irritation. Aloe Vera Hydrating Face Wash, $10 Just looking at this bottle, you can feel