October 01, 2019 at 04:28PM by CWC In Japan, it’s tradition to walk through a forest to find stress relief. They coined the term forest bathing, and even doctors there prescribe jaunts in nature as preventative medicine, as plenty of studies have shown major reductions in cortisol, which in turn, help stress to plummet. Now this soothing trend is coming for your skin. “Forest skin care is buzzing—it’s skin-care brands inspired by the Japanese tradition of walking through forests for stress reduction,” Annie Jackson, co-founder and COO of Credo Beauty tells me. “So brands are adapting medicinal ingredients that you’d find in a forest to boost your skin’s immunity and promote stress relief.” It may sound out-there, but there’s legitimacy to the whole thing. The translation of forest bathing for your skin involves the most healing, nourishing plant extracts that you’d find amongst the trees—think Siberian fir, eucalyptus oil, juniper, birch sap, chaga mushroom—that all work to get your complexion healthier and less, well, stressed from outer forces. “Forest skin care is a branch—no pun intended—from the ‘natural’ trend of the past few years,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology. “There’s some science to back this trend—we know that mushrooms can enhance moisture and hydration similar to hyaluronic acid. Many mushrooms, which are a classic forest finding, have abilities to improve pigmentation and have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and even antibacterial properties, which makes them a great addition to a skin-care regimen.” As for tree-derived ingredients like birch
Tag: Well+Good
These head-to-toe doorway stretches are the next best thing to a full-body massage
October 01, 2019 at 03:30PM by CWC With all of the professional stretching studios you can go to these days, it’s become a covetable thing to have someone else do your stretching for you. It’s something I, as a lazy stretcher, am particularly grateful for. Of course, I can’t do this all the time—which is fine, because a doorway stretch can stand in for a professional stretcher from the comfort of your own home, office, etc. Wherever there’s a doorway, there’s a stretching opportunity to be had. “At times, stretching on your own can be easier said than done,” says Jeff Brannigan, program director at Stretch*d in New York City. “A simple and accessible tool like a doorway can help you achieve a stretch in areas that can be hard to get on your own.” How convenient! Keep scrolling for seven doorway stretch variations you can try to get loose on your own. 1. Chest: While standing in the doorway, grab a side with each hand so they are placed on the doorframe at an angle slightly above your head. While you are gripping the doorframe, slowly step forward so your arms are now behind you. “You should feel a stretch in the chest, biceps, and forearms,” says Brannigan. His tip? The higher your arms are, the more intense the stretch will be. 2. Side body: Put one foot in front of the other in the doorway, and bend to one side so that you’re holding one side of the door frame with
8 DASH diet-approved recipes to make every meal of the day good for your heart
October 01, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC With *so* many different healthy eating plans out there, it’s clear that there isn’t just one way to live your best, nutrient-rich life. But when it comes to the way of eating that doctors and dietitians recommend the most, there are two main contenders: the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. You’re likely very familiar with the Med diet (it made a big comeback this year), but what about its less famous cousin, DASH? DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and like the Mediterranean diet, is a heart-healthy eating plan that emphasizes healthy monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, nuts, and avocado. Other requirements: consuming six to eight servings of whole grains per day, four to five servings of fruits and veggies, fewer than six servings of animal protein, two to three servings of low- or non-fat dairy products, and keeping sugar and sodium intake to a minimum. (Again, veeeeery reminiscent of the Med diet.) Another reason health experts are such a fan of the DASH diet is that it isn’t restrictive and is actually pretty easy to stick with. Need proof? Check out the recipes rounded up here, for every meal of the day. Not only are they all DASH diet-compliant, they’ll have your mouth watering. Scroll down for eight healthy DASH diet recipes. Photo: Minimalist Baker 1. Peanut butter overnight oats Serving of whole grains? Check. Healthy fats and protein? Check. Fruit? Yep. In just five ingredients, this mason
3 zodiac signs are ruled by fire—here’s how to cool down the heat for balance
October 01, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Most folks, regardless of their baseline zodiac knowledge know the basic traits of their sun sign (what you read when you check out your horoscope). Some may even be clued-in to their moon signs, which speaks to the person’s emotional, internal-leaning energy, and their rising sign, which is how others see them. Another feature to consider though, is your ruling element. There are four elements, or triplicities, and each sign belongs to one. The elements—Earth, water, fire, and air—often explain what pushes you in a certain direction, and fire signs can burn particularly bright. What are the fire signs, you ask, and what, specifically, do the ruling elements do? Think of the elements as another cliquey way the zodiac wheel sections us off and also brings us together. While the modalities (or quadruplicities)—cardinal, mutable, and fixed—speak to our behavior and how we react to the world, ruling elements more so act as commentary on our temperament. “Our star signs, also known as sun signs, are only one part of a much bigger picture,” says astrologer Carolyne Faulkner, author of The Signs. “Some people are very much aligned to their sun sign, in terms of temperament. If they are not, this indicates that an aspect is changing the output of energy.” “Fire signs usually seek action and adventure above all. They are forces of nature who motivate the self and others with ease.” —Carolyne Faulkner, astrologer That’s a gentle reminder that regardless of what
This paleo eggs Benedict will make you want to stay in for brunch every weekend
October 01, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC If brunch is the highlight of Sundays, the lowlight is the lethargic feeling you get after scarfing down a plate of heavy food. And while we’re all for afternoon naps, sometimes sluggishness just doesn’t jive with your productivity goals for the day. The solution? Healthify your favorite dish, of course, starting with the queen of brunch: eggs Benedict. Give this café classic a paleo makeover with this simple recipe, using sweet potato toast for the base and a lighter hollandaise sauce to (generously) drizzle on top. The most important part of this whole DIY brunch sitch (besides the fact it helps you avoid waiting in a line that stretches down the block) is choosing the right eggs to star in your masterpiece. That’s why we teamed up with Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs—whose mission is to bring high-quality organic eggs from small family farms to homes across the country. Because organic does taste better. Jesse Laflamme, chief executive farmer at Pete and Gerry’s says to look for four things when shopping the egg aisle: the USDA Organic seal, the Certified Humane Free Range seal, rich golden yolks, and thick shells. If your carton checks those boxes, you’re set to start cooking a next-level healthy brunch. Watch the video for a step-by-step recipe for making eggs Benedict at home in your PJs. https://content.jwplatform.com/players/abqrEa01-AjgxWzQ7.js Continue Reading… Author Well+Good Editors | Well and Good Selected by CWC
This 4-ingredient homemade makeup remover can actually take care of business
October 01, 2019 at 02:30AM by CWC A beauty commandment we can all agree on: Take your makeup off before bed. If not for the sake of your nightly skin-care ritual, for the sake of your very delicate face: Because skin absorbs leftover product, sleeping in the stuff (for shame!) can clog pores, worsen acne, and keep skin cells from shedding through the night, causing dull skin. The second order of business is to find a makeup remover that actually takes all your stubborn makeup off—without the same effort required to scrub a plate crusted in goop. And on days when you discover you’ve pumped your last drop of your beloved micellar water, or if you’re looking for a simple potion that won’t dry out your skin, homemade makeup removers can come to your rescue. What you need for DIY makeup remover While many store-bought products use soaps and surfactants to loosen the surface tension of the water, making the molecules “slipperier” and therefore better able to sweep away dirt and oils, homemade recipes count on oil to dissolve makeup, says Kelly Dobos, cosmetic chemist and president of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Oils—like coconut, olive, argan, and more—are often used as the base of DIY removers because, Dobos says, “like dissolves like.” Foundation, mascara, and lip products often contain waxy or oily ingredients, which oils can thus take on. Just remember: Coconut and argan oil can clog pores, so if you’re prone to acne, opt for hydrating olive oil
It’s time we all learned the 5 rules for apologizing like an adult
October 01, 2019 at 02:19AM by CWC “There’s no ‘but’ after ‘I’m sorry” was my mom’s favorite axiom throughout my childhood. She meant, of course, that atonement should never come with an excuse tacked on the end. My sister and I rolled our eyes each time she recited her mantra, but eventually we learned to say our sorries in three syllables. Mom wasn’t wrong. According to psychologist Nancy Irwin, PsyD, a member of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, that’s how to apologize like an adult. First, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what constitutes an “I’m sorry.” Psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD, says it’s pretty straightforward. “An apology is when you recognize that you’ve done something that hurt someone or caused them trouble. It can be anywhere between something little, like ‘Sorry I forgot to put more paper in the printer,’ to a public apology for actions that hurt a lot of people, like a celebrity or brand doing something culturally insensitive,” she explains. (I don’t know about you, but I can think of a few public figures who could stand to join the latter category.) “To apologize authentically, we have to take a hard look at who we are in that situation.” —Aimee Daramus, PsyD Feeling the need to make amends can be sparked by different circumstances, but most of the time, Dr. Daramus says it comes down to putting a Band-Aid on the gaping wound of a hurt relationship. “We apologize to heal relationships that are important, to
7 farm-to-table restaurants in NYC that make sustainable eating easy—and delicious
October 01, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC It’s no secret that the food industry has a big sustainability problem. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, around 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide come from the food system (and farm animals in particular create 40 percent of methane gas emissions in the United States). There is no one cure to this very large issue, but there are a few ways people can contribute to a more eco-friendly food system—like prioritizing farm-to-table food and restaurants. It’s not just a buzzword. Essentially, “farm-to-table” describes food and restaurants that use local (and often in-season) ingredients, whether that’s vegetables grown on a nearby farm or meat from a small area rancher. The movement has been around since the ’30s, but it’s seeing new life as more and more people are interested in eating sustainably. Experts argue that using local ingredients when they’re in season is better for the environment, since it requires less transportation (and thus creates a smaller carbon footprint). Many also argue that this is a healthier option for consumers, since produce in general retains fewer nutrients the more time there is between harvest and consumption. To make this work, chefs maintain a direct relationship with their farmers and purveyors, and often prioritize vendors who use organic and sustainable farming methods. Speaking of organic, here’s the deal with that whole “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” thing: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHSaA0-Chg] Certainly, some places just use this term as a buzzword. But legit farm-to-table restaurants
7 signs your can-do attitude is actually ‘toxic positivity’ in disguise
October 01, 2019 at 01:30AM by CWC I once had a glowingly perma-happy friend that pushed away conflict and negativity like Play Doh; to this day, I remember my friend’s smile, and her ulcers. Newsflash for the uninformed: toxic positivity can be mega harmful to your body and your mind! And of course I’m Team Doom and Gloom, so I embrace this school of thought. But for those with a sunny disposition, it may hard to see if your positivity has turned nuclear. Well, kind of hard. Writing for The Psychology Group, Samara Quintero, LMFT, CHT and Jamie Long, PsyD, help identify what toxic positivity is, and where it could be hiding. Now to be clear, toxic positivity isn’t as simple as just being so gosh darn pleasant. They define toxic positivity it as an “excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state across all situations,” noting further that “toxic positivity results in the denial, minimization, and invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience.” To wit, you’re a person. You’re not a millennial pink “Good Vibes Only” throw pillow. Sometimes things are terrible and it’s more effective to allow yourself or your loved ones to speak your truth. If you bottle things up, well, it can cause real stress on the body and the mind. And if you tell your friend that “everything happens for a reason” when some moron in a Hummer steamrolled their corgi, Waffles, you’re going to get hit upside the head. So how do you spot the
What to know about skin hyperpigmentation and how to get rid of it in no-time flat
October 01, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Much like fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation is a common skin concern that most folks associate with the face—not the body. Believe it or not, though, hyperpigmentation (spots or specks that appear darker than the rest of the skin), doesn’t discriminate and can appear just about anywhere on the face or below the neck. We know what you’re probably thinking: Oh give me a break. And we’re right there with you. It’s already annoying enough that we have to worry about dark marks and discoloration on our precious complexions—but our entire bodies, too? It feels like a helluva of a lot of ground to cover. The good news? Hyperpigmentation causes and treatments are fairly similar for the face and the body. We know because we tapped two board-certified dermatologists for their expert insight on the matter, and they came through with all the details. Without further ado, find a full breakdown on body hyperpigmentation—including causes, solutions, and rare cases you should know about—below. What is hyperpigmentation and why does it happen? Hyperpigmentation is loosely defined as darkened patches or spots on the skin and runs the gamut from sun spots to acne scars to freckles. As Sejal Shah, MD, a New York City dermatologist, puts it matter-of-factly: “Hyperpigmentation refers to excess pigmentation, which appears as dark spots on the skin.” This excess pigmentation occurs when the skin produces more melanin, which for those unfamiliar, is the pigment that’s responsible for giving skin its