October 22, 2019 at 08:07PM by CWC Ab workouts generally go one of two ways: They feel far too easy (making you question how effective they really are) or they’re so difficult, you’re panting out of breath after just three reps. (No? Just me?) But that’s not to say abs movements should be pushed to the wayside. Instead, look for simple workouts that challenge multiple muscles in your body for a sweat sesh that bolsters results. Not sure where to start? Ahead, a few of the industry’s top trainers share their favorite abs exercises that go above and beyond to work shoulders, glutes, legs, too. Trust us, you’ll want to work these into your next gym day. 1. Bicycle crunch with weights: Sitting on the floor with one light weight in each hand (think: three to eight pounds), curl back with your chin to chest. “Bend your right leg to a 90-degree angle, hovering off the floor,” instructs Pure Barre VP of training and technique, Katelyn DiGiorgio. “Extend the left leg to hover above the floor, keeping it straight. Rotate right and reach the weights past your right thigh.” When performing this movement, execute small crunches up to the right for 30 seconds before switching legs and moving to the left. “Bicycle the legs as you curl side to side and repeat there for 30 seconds as well,” says DiGiorgio. “This exercise targets all major movers of the core and the weights in the arms to add some bonus shoulder
Tag: Well+Good
You can now “microblade” foundation and we are *all* about it
October 22, 2019 at 07:15PM by CWC Technology has gotten pretty creative in figuring out how to make your fave makeup products last—and I’m talking about even longer than longwear makeup. First there were eyeliner and lip liner tattoos. Then, permanent-ish beauty treatments like microblading exploded, much to the fanfare of those who wanted thicker brows. And now, we’ve got a complexion option on the market: BB Glow semi-permanent foundation. The closest thing I can compare it to is microblading foundation. At a preview this morning with Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist, he unveiled the aesthetic treatments that will be big in 2020, one of which is this complexion-enhancing technology, dubbed PFrank MD BB Glow. “BB Glow is an immediate and short-term makeup procedure,” Dr. Frank said at the event, noting that it originated in Korea (surprise). “We’re literally microneedling organic makeup particles into the topmost layers of the epidermis.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmHndTQaq3k] It’s actually a “nutrient-rich” BB cream (it’s got vitamins and antioxidants in it) that’s infused into the skin for light to medium coverage, and it works to blur acne scars, hyperpigmentation, freckles, uneven skin, and other topical blemishes you may want to hide. So if you’re not quite ready to get a laser treatment yet, this works to even skin tone and lasts for several weeks. While eyebrow microblading can stick around for up to two years, these pigments aren’t placed very far into skin so they last less time. The superficial delivery of
The Mediterranean diet is the best eating plan for your gut health—because of course it is
October 22, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC The Mediterranean diet is like that kid in your high school who was literally good at everything. It always comes out on top. The eating plan’s latest accolade? Best for Gut Health. A new study out of the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands found that the Mediterranean diet—a plant-centric way of eating that emphasizes foods high in omega-3s and healthy fats—boosts the good bacteria in the gut and reduces inflammation. A rundown of the major foods linked with these covetable health benefits: fish, nuts, legumes, grains, vegetables, fruits, bread, and red wine. Researchers also noted the types of foods that were avoided, namely sugar and processed foods. Red meat was also noticeably absent, and some research suggests that a diet high in red meat is not good for gut health. One of the reasons the Med diet is so great at boosting gut health and lowering inflammation is because it emphasizes fiber-rich foods, like vegetables, lentils, and grains. So if you take anything away from this new news, it should be adding more fiber to your life. Here’s what a registered dietitian thinks of the Mediterranean diet: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGnyqti9wsw] So, once again the Mediterranean diet proves to be good for overall health. Now, please excuse me while I go whip up a chickpea salad with a side of quinoa. Wondering if you can follow the Med diet without eating fish? Here’s the verdict. And BTW, you can still have dessert. Continue
What to look for (and run away from) when shopping for face oils
October 22, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Unlike many of my peers, my skin didn’t react well after test-driving a facial oil. Actually, it flipped out (think persistent itching, peeling, red pumps, the whole gamut). It was hardly the first time my complexion didn’t jibe with oil. Whether it was a simple coconut oil or the next big plant-based blend, my skin never fared well. Despite them being hailed as the holiest of holy in the world of natural beauty, bestowing so many others with radiant skin, they just weren’t meshing well with me. Even though face oils tend to have ingredients that look like they were plucked from the pantry, that doesn’t necessarily translate to “skin-friendly.” “I was surprised by how many face oils on the market do not take into account the skin’s natural lipid ratio of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids,” says Mary Allan, a skin-care formulator and founder of her eponymous skin-care line. “Many plant oils are comedogenic, AKA pore clogging, and need to be formulated by skin type to avoid problems.” Some comedogenic oils include coconut, wheat germ oil, avocado, and olive, while many dermatitis and irritation cases happen from essential oils. How to know the difference between carrier and essential oils All facial oils fall into two categories: carrier oils and essential oils. Carriers (like argan, hemp seed, and blueberry seed oil) have a large molecular structure, which helps them “carry” smaller molecules like essential oils. Hence the name. Essentials, on the other hand,
I’m a sex coach and these are my 4 favorite things to do in the bedroom
October 22, 2019 at 05:27PM by CWC Though the world is gloriously growing more on board by the day with openly discussing all kinds of sex—shower sex, oral sex, anal sex, and beyond—there’s still so much so many want to learn. So, it’s great news that sexperts are available to offer their best sex tips for creating and maintaining a healthy between-the-sheets relationship. Below, certified sex educator and coach Alicia Sinclair, founder and CEO of premium sex-toy brand Le Wand, gets real about the non-negotiable bedroom rules she follows to keep her own sex life healthy, happy, and exciting. And don’t worry—you, yourself don’t have to be a certified pro in order to test the roundup of best sex tips. Learn the 4 best sex tips a sex expert swears by in her own life. 1. Try new things “I’m sure many people think that as a sex educator, I’ve tried it all. But to be honest, I find that there’s no shortage of new things to try adding into my sexual diet,” Sinclair says. “This can be as simple as adding a new sexy candle scent into the mix or trying a new sex toy or position. ” “There’s no shortage of new things to try adding into my sexual diet. This can be as simple as adding a new sexy candle scent into the mix or trying a new sex toy or position.” —Alicia Sinclair, sex coach So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get creative.
The next frontier of girls’ trips is a little bit country at these 8 luxe western ranches
October 22, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Before you book that flight to the Caribbean for your next girls’ trip, you’d be wise to consider another travel option for resetting your mind and recharging your batteries. Many areas of the American West are a vast, open, and sparsely populated, which makes a country western ranch vacation a great setting for enjoying some R and R. Beyond being picturesque spots for relaxing to the max, these spots offer unique adventures that aren’t readily available to experience in many bigger cities (think: horseback riding through pastures, fly fishing in creeks and rivers, ATVing in the mountains, hiking rock formations). If all of this sounds up your alley, get yourself a pair of hiking boots and round up your crew for a luxe western ranch vacation. Below find eight stellar options. Read on for 8 luxe western ranch vacations begging to be your next girls’ trip getaway. View this post on Instagram Always take the scenic route. A post shared by Magee Homestead (@mageehomestead) on Aug 7, 2019 at 3:53pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. Magee Homestead in Saratoga, Wyoming At this adults-only ranch, a Relais & Chateaux property, you won’t really be roughing it. Located on 7,000 acres in Saratoga, Wyoming, the upscale all-inclusive experience is unlike the one you might have had for spring break, with weak drinks and mediocre food. (To be fair, along with the quality boost, you’ll also notice a price surge, with room rates starting at $1,000 per person
4 looks that prove iridescent makeup is actually wearable
October 22, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC It’s prime time to play with makeup. Call it the Euphoria effect, or the more updated way to wear shimmer, but iridescent makeup is e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. And I’m not mad about it. Whether it’s eyelids speckled with mermaid-esque hues, Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century-inspired lip gloss, or cheekbones that shine with a holographic sheen, iridescent products are here to accent your skin with a pearly finish. “It’s fun, ethereal, and can translate into many different looks,” says Joshua Pierce, makeup artist and store manager of Credo Beauty in Chicago. “Without stating the obvious, glitter and iridescent looks are euphoric,” adds Allie Compton, esthetician and makeup artist at Credo in New York. “This look is youthful, exciting, and evokes joy—everyone knows sparkles are made with 95 percent happiness and 5 percent mica.” Since iridescent hues reflect light, a little goes a long way. “There’s no wrong way to wear these shimmery colors to make a statement,” she says. “It can be easy to go overboard though, so I’d choose one feature to highlight to make it more wearable for everyday.” Since iridescent makeup is way too pretty to just tell you about, we put various looks to the test. Keep scrolling for seriously celestial inspo. Photo: Well+Good Design Swipe it on lids Bring the shimmer to the eyelids, and in this case, you have total permission to sheer the color down to a wash or pack it up to really go full-throttle. Compton loves an enchanting eye
A functional medicine doctor’s favorite healthy dinner recipe for easy weeknight eating
October 22, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC Photo: Little Brown Spark Functional medicine practitioner Mark Hyman, MD, has become the go-to doc for demystifying what it means to eat healthy. His plant-forward food philosophy, which he dubbed pegan, isn’t anything complicated. At its core, it’s a combination of Paleo and vegan eating: “A pegan diet is low-glycemic, high in plant foods, low in sugar, and includes adequate protein for appetite control and muscle synthesis,” Dr. Hyman previously told Well+Good. With his new book, Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? ($23), Dr. Hyman aims to make healthy eating a bit easier (and less intimidating). Out today, the book has science-backed tips on how to eat—and cook—to reduce inflammation, and dozens of recipes for every meal, including snacks and dessert. When it comes to grocery shopping, Dr. Hyman says his first stop is the produce section. “Every single time I’m at the market I’m grabbing veggies,” he says. “I always recommend making 75 percent of your plate colorful non-starchy veggies, and this is the way I eat myself. I like to see what’s in season and what looks fresh, but some of my favorites right now are red kale, arugula, fennel, and wild mushrooms. This is a great time of year to get a variety of tasty winter squash and pomegranate, too, which I’ve really been enjoying.” Once he gets cooking, Dr. Hyman says extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, sea salt, and all sorts of herbs are his most-used pantry items.
How to eat intuitively while still hitting your nutrition goals, according to an RD
October 22, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC Eating intuitively sounds simple—you eat what and when your body tells you to and that’s that—but how do you know your body is truly getting what it needs? (Unfortunately, you can’t ask Alexa everything.) First of all, here’s what intuitive eating actually is: “Intuitive eating is based on connecting with oneself to be more self-aware and in tune with the body’s hunger levels, hunger cues, cravings, and being aware of diet culture overall,” explains McKel Kooienga, RD, founder, and CEO of Nutrition Stripped. But real-talk: Listening to your body isn’t always as easy as it sounds. And if you’re just starting out with this new mindset, Kooienga has a few pointers to help guide you. “Most people consuming a standard American diet don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables,” she says. “Aim to get a few servings at every meal if possible, this will also support your digestion by consuming fiber from whole foods.” From there, she counts staying hydrated (specifically with filtered water) and eating a variety of proteins (especially plant-based ones that pack more fiber, like lentils and tempeh) as two simple things you can do on the reg to know you’re fueling your body right. And if you want a really easy way to combine a lot of these principles, we have two words: chia drink. “You can make one of my favorites from home,” says Kooienga. “It’s two parts filtered water, one part 100 percent pure cranberry juice, and two
Ironically, the next frontier of waste-free living is coming for your bathroom
October 22, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC There’s no denying at this point that the planet is headed for the toilet. (Seriously. No one should be denying it.) Maybe you’re well aware and rage-watch Greta Thunberg’s speech at the UN Climate Action Summit about 40 times a day, wondering how things got this bad, how you can help, and whether you’re majorly contributing to the problem. Turns out we can all wise up about something brought to my attention at, of all places, Butt Con, a convention that took place in New York City earlier this year, dedicated to (obviously) all things derrière. What I learned is that bidets and eco-friendly bathroom products are here to save the world. “Right now, 15 million trees are getting cut down every single year because of toilet paper,” says Miki Agrawal, founder of bidet company Tushy. “The Canadian Boreal Forest is literally getting decimated every year just for toilet-paper consumption.” Let’s not forget that we’re using toilet paper for the express purpose to wipe away waste—yet, it’s creating more of it and also depleting our resources in the process. “We flush about 30,000 trees per day in toilet paper,” says Ashlee Piper, sustainability expert and author of Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet. “Conventional toilet paper, especially so-called ‘flushable wipes,’ are terrible for the environment and plumbing, causing costly fatbergs.” “We flush about 30,000 trees per day in toilet paper,” —sustainability expert Ashlee Piper Fatbergs, for the delightfully uninformed,